Is this Africa or England?

 

We have been getting used to the daily downpours in what is supposed to be the dry season but the other day went even further. We heard an almighty clattering on our tin roof and looked out to see it was hailing. The stones were the size of marbles and must have been really painful for those caught out in it. By the end the ground was covered and there were drifts where they had poured out from the spouts on the rooves. The Carers had great fun making sculptures the following morning which did not melt until late in the afternoon despite a day of sunshine. Sadly the hail destroyed a lot of bean crops which is not good news at all.

 

 

Early on in the hail storm. The noise was phenomenal.

It was followed by 20 hours without power. This necessitated us cooking and eating the village pork in our freezer section that we were saving for a special occasion. Still, any occasion can be special.....and it was lovely.

 

 

Despite the beauty, sadness is all around. Today a 2yr old lad was brought in from the community. Three days ago he went to the local healer with a fever. This healer looked at his red tonsils and performed what is called a 'local tonsillectomy'. Basically the healer sharpens some sticks and proceeds to puncture the tonsils to let the badness out. All this with no sedation or pain killers. Frequently it results in death and sometimes it is a way of transmitting HIV/AIDs as the healer uses the same sticks or bicycle spokes on everyone. This lad has been brought in unconscious and with a roaring infection and pneumonia. We can only hope and pray that he will survive but this is not certain. The practice of local tonsillectomies has been declared punishable with imprisonment by the Government but apparently this has had very little effect. Jovea, the nurse, says that she reported a healer once who was then put in the local prison but the community attacked the building until the police were forced to give them their healer back.

Mike has come in to say that this lad has had the procedure three times and has just tested positive for HIV/AIDs even though the parents say they are both negative. He has also been unconscious for the last two days and is grossly malnourished so they really have left it very late to hope his life can be saved. It is so very tragic.

On a different note, the workshop continues to take shape. Festo, the Carpenter found some windows and incorporated them into the design. There is one shop that sells newspapers in Kisoro. He sells his unsold papers back to Kampala at about 15p each. He is happy to sell them to me for the same price so that solves my newspaper problem although I wasn't bargaining for having to buy them.

Last week's DVD night went down well and is being repeated this evening at Emily's accommodation across the compound. Currently there are a group of toddlers stationed near there who have gone for an afternoon outing for some potty training in the countryside!

My bread has failed to rise for some reason but has gone into the oven to make a thick biscuit - if I can catch it before it burns.....and the power has gone off again - what a pain - maybe there won't be a DVD tonight. That's one thing about life here, it's totally unpredictable. This blog will get posted.......erm......sometime!

 

You can't beat a sunny Saturday afternoon!

 

We can't believe we have been here for three weeks already. It would be hard not to enjoy being here. I am writing this on a pleasantly warm Saturday afternoon, sitting out on our sheltered balcony and watching the toddlers playing. One is at the water tank trying to wash a waste paper basket that is full of holes. Two have been under the pick-up truck giving it a once over which it needs as it won't go far. Others are scattered around being watched by Carers. Washing is scattered on sheets on the ground to dry in the sun.

Ivan is doing well and has returned to the baby room. We tried him on goat's milk which was marginally better than the effect of Cow's milk but not good enough. Then he was taken off milk altogether and given soya porridge and rehydration fluid which worked a treat. He is now gaining 100grams of weight a day. We shall have to watch he doesn't go too far the other way! Spooning in the porridge was no fun for Sue or Ivan so she resorted to cutting off the top of a teat and giving it to him in his favourite manner. It was hard to hand him back but the best for him and certainly for us during the nights - we were getting seriously overtired! We have him during the day for spells of cuddles and attention.

Sue's workshop is taking shape. The right half will be a covered store room and the left half is an open air working area. She has been trying out various flours to get good paste. Wheat would not work but Cassava flour is excellent. It is cheaper than wheat but not always available. A bin and a bit of stockpiling will be needed. We are grateful for money that has already been donated for this project that has allowed her to make a start.

The Medical Centre has busy days and not so busy days. Yesterday two prem babies came in. One had hydrocephalus and other complications and sadly did not make it. The other is in an incubator and doing well. The centre will get busier but it does give Mike the chance to work on protocols for different possibilities. Reading hazy x-rays for TB is something to be mastered. There is the possibility that they will add burns to their list of specialities so he and Nurse Emily are discussing how they can practically manage this.

 

Our lounge which tonight will be the venue for a meal and DVD for us, Emily and two volunteer teachers - so long as the power stays on! A TV screen and DVD player were found in a store room behind the office. The plugs spark but it's worth the risk.

 

 

 

 

Mike is feeling very pleased with himself at finding parasite cysts in the stools of one of the village children - amazing what can cause pleasure! Sue is watching another load of volcanic ash arriving to go on the floor of her workshop.

All-in-all, a satisfactory day. We hope yours has been too.

...and now we are three!

 

 

Meet Ivan...cute or what?

 

Ivan was abandoned last October when it was gauged he must have been 21/2 months. He is now 61/2 months but is not gaining weight sufficiently. He has anaemia and a very bloated stomach. He is not able to absorb nutrients from cow's milk so has been changed on to goat's milk from the 3 goats in the village. He can tolerate this milk better but not as well as would be hoped. We have him living with us at the moment for Mike to assess him and keep an eye on his progress. The nights are killing us! Producing dirty nappies is a skill he practices with great gusto. However he is as cute as cute can be, so all is forgiven.

The Village is one pig down as from today. Some of him is in our freezer. I'm a little worried as the power keeps going off on a regular basis but as the others have survived this then I'm sure we will too.

Cooking is a challenge. The gas oven has 2 settings.....burn the bottom, or take for ever to cook.

The night sky gives wonderful and usually silent displays of lightning flashing way up high. Match that with the sound of cicadas and you really know you are abroad.